The United Rugby Championship final is set, and it has a familiar look. Leinster will host the Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park on Friday 19 June, kick-off 19:30, in a repeat of last season's decider and the first time the league has staged its showpiece on a Friday night. As the top-ranked side, Leinster keep home advantage in front of an expected big Dublin crowd.
They got there the hard way. Leinster ground out a 20-11 win over the Stormers in a semi-final that boiled over before the hour. Rieko Ioane and Jamison Gibson-Park crossed for the holders, with Sam Prendergast kicking two penalties and a conversion and Harry Byrne adding another, while the Stormers replied through an Adre Smith try and two Jurie Matthee penalties. The contest tilted on a 69th-minute red card for Ruan Ackermann, shown for a dangerous clearout on Ronan Kelleher, and Gibson-Park's try followed soon after. Leinster also lost prop Andrew Porter to injury inside 22 minutes, and the sides clashed in the tunnel at half-time.
The Bulls' route was even more dramatic. Trailing 21-3 at Murrayfield after Kyle Steyn's double and a penalty try, Jake White's side hauled themselves back with tries from Johan Grobbelaar, Embrose Papier and Francois Klopper, the last set up by a bulldozing Cameron Hanekom carry, to lead 22-21 by the 53rd minute. Handre Pollard, sin-binned early for a deliberate knock-on, missed three late penalties, but the Bulls strangled the game from there. Glasgow, playing at Murrayfield rather than Scotstoun because of Commonwealth Games preparations, did not score after the 25th minute.
A stunned Jake White summed up the comeback simply: "I'm lost for words."
Glasgow head coach Franco Smith was philosophical in defeat. "We didn't convert the opportunities, but there are two sides to it," he said. "Nobody will know how much we fought above our weight this season because we won anyway." He added: "I want to build a garden. I don't want the flower to die. We want to be significant, not just successful."
For Leinster, the final is a chance to defend the title they won against the same opponents 12 months ago. Leo Cullen is relishing the occasion. "We want to put on a proper show. Croke Park, Friday night, it's amazing for us to be in this situation," the head coach said. He is wary of the support the four-time finalists will bring: "The Bulls have a big tradition. How many of their fans will travel?" And he wants a full house behind his side: "Hopefully, we'll have a big crowd there. It was great last year and we'll hopefully have the same."
It is the Bulls' fourth URC final in five seasons, and a fourth attempt to finally land the trophy. The match will be broadcast on Premier Sports in Ireland and the UK and on SuperSport in South Africa.
